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The Buffalo Stars Junior Hockey organization, a college-prep level program based at Holiday Twin Rinks, is challenging Western New York’s youth hockey associations to collect gift cards to benefit the New York Air National Guard 107th Airlift Wing's Family Readiness Group.

This gift card drive is part of the Stars' upcoming “Salute to American Troops” ceremony, which takes place during the hockey club’s season opener on Saturday, September 11 at Holiday Twin Rinks. (Further details about the schedule and team are available at www.buffalostars.com)

“We all know the sacrifices men and women in the military make each day, but so do their families,” said Buffalo Stars president and general manager Pete Preteroti. “Many families often struggle to make ends meet while their loved ones are away answering their nation’s call. This is also true among reservists, whose families have to live without the paychecks he or she would normally earn in their everyday jobs. We owe it to our local military families to offer a helping hand.”

The Stars are asking interested donors to choose gift cards that can cover the cost of groceries and other everyday living supplies, such as supermarket or department store gift cards.

The local youth team that collects the highest dollar value of gift cards will receive a free one-hour practice run by Buffalo Stars coaches. In addition, that team and their parents will be invited to a future Stars home game at Holiday Twin Rinks where they’ll be treated to a pizza party.

Teams must collect a minimum of $200 in gift cards to qualify for the contest. Interested hockey organizations can contact Stars president and general manager Pete Preteroti at 685-1122 or sportsniag@aol.com.